B.C. NDP government to waive tuition fees for former youth in care

The B.C. NDP Government has expanded the tuition waiver for young people formerly in care to cover all 25 public post-secondary institutions in B.C.

Advanced Education minister Melanie Mark says the government believes young people who were in care deserve the chance to thrive, not just survive.

"We know that former youth in care are less likely to access post-secondary education or training than young people who grew up with family supports,” Mark says in an email response to INFOnews.ca.

For those aged 19 to 26, and had been in foster care for two years, the B.C. government will fully fund post-secondary education.

More than $433,000 was paid to 17 public post-secondary institutions in 2017 to cover tuition and mandatory fees, according to the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. Those who have already paid tuition, and qualify for the waiver, can get a refund.

The minister expects the number of people registering for the program to grow.

“Numbers are expected to rise as word of the program spreads and students know the provincial tuition waiver program is here to stay,” Mark says.

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